WHO suspends Gaza medical evacuations after contractor killed by Israeli troops

The World Health Organization has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah crossing after a contractor was killed by Israeli troops on Monday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the contractor – named locally as Majdi Aslan, 54 – was killed in a "security incident" and that two staff were present but not injured. He gave no further details. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said the contractor was driving a WHO-rented vehicle in southern Gaza when it was targeted by Israeli forces. Israel's military said its troops "identified an unmarked vehicle approaching them and the Yellow Line, posing an immediate threat", referring to the line marking Israeli-held territory. "In response, the troops fired warning shots. The vehicle continued to accelerate toward the troops, who then responded with additional fire that hit the vehicle," it added. Tedros said the WHO had suspended medical evacuations of sick and wounded Palestinians from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt until further notice. "We call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers," he added. Hanan Balkhy, the WHO's regional director, described the killing of the contractor as "a devastating loss" a